Dreaming What Ifs...

No Cakes for the Ancients

Yesterday, Buttercup informed me that "tomorrow" was the 50th day of school.  She needed to dress up like someone from the 50's.  Also, her class was having a Cakewalk.

As I searched her room for non-existent poodle skirts, she asked, "Mom, what's a Cakewalk?"

"You've participated in a Cakewalk before."  I reminded her.  "Everyone walks in a circle and when the music stops you jump on a number.  Whoever's number is called gets a cake."

"Are you sure?"  She asked, wrinkling her nose, "I don't think this will be the same.  This is a Cakewalk from the 50's.  It will be different."

"Um, no."  I reassured her, "I'm sure it will be the same."

"But mom!"  She declared, "They probably didn't even have cake way back then."

Should I tell her about how Grandma had to walk uphill both ways to school in six feet of snow all summer long?

Shutterfly Holiday Cards Entice This Blogger to "Sell Out!"

Honestly, this is my favorite time of year.  I love the decorating, baking cookies, visiting with family, surprising my children with Santa gifts, singing carols, and listening to Bing Crosby sing "Melekalikimaka" over and over again.  But the thing I LOVE the most is opening up my mailbox and seeing Holiday Cards! 

I am owning up.  I read every single badly written, campy holiday letter.  I will even acknolwedge that I write them myself (but of course, mine are never badly written...)  I especially like opening up a card with a picture.  A picture makes the card complete.

There is nothing better than seeing the yearly growth of distant cousins.  It brings them closer.  My eyes twinkle with delight when a card arrives showcasing three generations wearing plaid sweaters.  I can't help but giggle when little Billy's best picture has his eyes crossed.  Kim jumping out of an airplane was an odd choice for a Christmas picture, I admit, but I felt her thrill.  I wanted to be there with her.

So, how PERFECT is this scenario?  Holiday photo cards that are a little different than the standard ones sent every year!  Holiday photo cards that allow for more than just one picture!  Who does this?

Shutterfly!!  Check out their Holiday Photo Cards.    I am so into this.  I already have the design in my mind.  I'm going to use one of the Folded Card designs with 5 pictures and add some momentous shots from the past year.  (The kids in the woods, catching their first fish, me at the Olympic Hockey Game, Dave rooting with the Czech fans).  And because the card is folded, I can add my campy form letter inside to make it all the more merrier! (you know you LOVE reading them too - admit it).

And who knows, I might even make a few of Shutterfly's Desk Calendar's for some happy grandparents, so they can enjoy pictures of their grandkids all year long.  I'd better get cracking.  I've got faces to wash, matching sweaters to pick out, and a long list of distant relatives and long lost friends that need some Mailbox Holiday Cheer! 

 

Jammin's Joke #2

It was the day before Thanksgiving and on the news is said the Chicken Who Crossed the Road got hit by a car.  They are looking for a replacement.

All the turkey's applied for the job.

The Binky Man

The Binky Man came to our house last Wednesday.  We had prepared for his arrival for weeks.  We talked about him with excitement and some predidation.  After all, who else, but the Binky Man could take those beloved pacifiers from little boys who no longer need them and then deliver them to the multitudes of babies desperate for something to suck on?

When the night arrived, we collected all the binkies and gently dropped them into a bag.  We placed the bag on the front porch and said, "Bye, Bye, Binkies."

After tears and cries of, "I need da binky!" we gently reminded the Caboose about how sad the babies were and how much they needed to have those binkies. 

"I'm a baaabeeee" he cried, sobbing at the loss of his pacifier.  Those words almost broke my heart, but I excitedly reminded him that the Binky Man would leave a toy, which would be on our doorstop in the morning!

And so, after a rough evening, in which me and Dave felt like horrible parents, the Caboose fell into a fitful sleep.  But, in the morning when he woke we ran for the front door and sure enough, the Binky Man had come in the night.

There, on the front porch, was a shiny new fire truck with ten different buttons to push that made all sorts of noise.  The loss of the binky was somewhat diminished.  The Binky Man had actually come through and delivered a dreamy new toy! 

 

And now, even though he misses his binky and sometimes asks about it with longing, he is reminded about his fire truck...and within seconds, the binky is a long lost memory. 

We thank the Binky Man and hope all those babies out there appreciate the Caboose's sacrifice on their behave.